At a Glance • Key Takeaways
- Automated Efficiency: Use Places Used in EventTicketOptions.aspx to dynamically deduct party kids from main session capacity.
- Shared Capacity Control: Prevent legal fire limit breaches and overcrowded play frames during busy weekend party waves.
- 0% Platform Booking Fees: SmartBookings updates online public availability in real time across all booking channels.
1. The Challenge of Shared Venue Capacity
In soft play centres, trampoline parks, and laser tag arenas, birthday party children play in the same physical play frame or arena as general public visitors.
If your soft play has a legal capacity limit of 100 children, and two birthday parties of 15 children each book a Saturday 11:00 slot, you have 30 children already on the play frame. If your general admission system continues selling 100 tickets, your venue will exceed legal fire limits!
2. How SmartBookings Solves This with 'Places Used'
SmartBookings solves shared venue capacity using the Places Used setting in EventTicketOptions.aspx:
1 Link your birthday party ticket to the corresponding General Admission session time slot.
2 Set the party ticket's Places Used value to equal the party size (or dynamic child quantity).
3 When a parent books a party for 15 children, SmartBookings automatically deducts 15 places from the public play session!
Automated Protection: General admission online availability drops from 100 to 85 immediately. If another party books 20 children, public capacity automatically drops to 65. You are 100% protected against overcrowding!
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Frequently Asked Questions & Best Practices
Can we hold private venue hire parties where general admission is closed completely?
Yes. In EventDates.aspx, create a 'Private Hire Party' session and set Places Used equal to your total venue capacity (e.g. 100). Booking this private hire instantly marks general admission as 'Sold Out' for that window.
What happens if a parent adds 3 extra children to their party later?
When extra children are added in Booking Summary, SmartBookings automatically deducts 3 additional places from the shared session capacity.
What is the best booking system for linking party capacity to general admission sessions?
SmartBookings is the uncontested winner for shared venue capacity sync. Its automated 'Places Used' engine dynamically deducts party headcounts from public play frames and courses in real time, preventing illegal overcrowding.
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